I had a large copper pot that belonged to my mum, I decided to sink it in the ground and lined it with pond liner, I wanted to make a water feature. we live on a council estate, no where near water! about 2 months after doing this I noticed a little head peeping out of the water, it was a baby frog followed by 2 more. so went to get some oxygenated pond plants from the garden centre to help them breath. I was told never to transfer spawn or frogs from another area because this is how disease is spread. just prepare your area and nature will do the rest.
Little Weed. I think some people use bricks to raise plant pots to the correct planting depth for each plant but in a shallow wildlife pond most plant pots stand in the shallows or the water lily pot is at the bottom in the deepest part. Some that need 4" or 5" above the top of the pot, I have placed on an upturned plastic plant pot in the deepest part. We put playsand in the bottom and washed pebbles around the shallow ledge. The plan now is to dig a bog garden and make a few hiding places with logs and stones. In fact my other half is now fully converted to the joys of the pond that he is going to dig another. Will be another small one but in a slightly shadier spot. This will leave us with a very small area of lawn but I'll be happy with the borders of bee friendly plants and ponds. It should be cheaper as i can take cuttings from original plants.
ps I heard a small splash the other evening and there was another small frog making its way to the other side. So that's two in the last few weeks and I never saw them before we had the pond.
Thanks for all the encouragement everyone. Pond built and partly sunk. It sits about 15" above ground. Breeze blocks under the liner to make some shelves and pond filled and left to settle before we trim the liner. Steps available for wildlife escape. Will put pics on soon. Now I have to decide how to finish the top edge to secure the liner. Suggestions welcome.
Hi Little weeeed, if you are putting the breeze blocks under the liner to make shelves, cover them with some old carpet/underlay to cushion them from the liner. With the pressue/weight of the water against the rough corners of a breeze block a hole could soon form and ruin your pond.
A picture of work so far might give us some ideas of how to help you finish off the edges. It doesn't have to be the same all the way round and ther are many different ways of doing it!
Our planting was probably too late, as the plants are starting to die back before they've put on much growth. But hopefully they will all be back next year. Two frogs now and loads of insects+larvae. Just starting to get a bit of blanket weed but I'm putting that down to being in full sun as the weather's been good since the water went in. Hopefully, once the water lilies grow again and I put some more 'rafting' plants in next year this should solve the problem. Going to sort some log piles around the edges tomorrow to provide more cover for the two frogs, as a cat is visiting regularly.
OOOOHHH. Now I need a bigger garden as I really really want a pond! Looks like the kids might lose a bit more from thier lawn. Or I coild maybe convert the sand pit that's 4'x8' made from sleepers! They don't use it anymore, and I was going to steal it for an extra veg or fruit bed! What do you all think? Gets partial shade in summer, mostly *sun* (or what passes for daylight here!) in winter. Have plenty rocks and bricks available to surround it. Opportunity for even more different plants! Will frogs still come if there is a little waterfall? Or does the wildlife prfer it still?
You've all just inspired me again, now. This forum is better than any amount of GW on telly, everyone is so friendly.
Posts
I had a large copper pot that belonged to my mum, I decided to sink it in the ground and lined it with pond liner, I wanted to make a water feature. we live on a council estate, no where near water! about 2 months after doing this I noticed a little head peeping out of the water, it was a baby frog followed by 2 more. so went to get some oxygenated pond plants from the garden centre to help them breath. I was told never to transfer spawn or frogs from another area because this is how disease is spread. just prepare your area and nature will do the rest.
Gosh, the nd photos are fantastic. Beyond my capabilites I think! Envious!
ps I heard a small splash the other evening and there was another small frog making its way to the other side. So that's two in the last few weeks and I never saw them before we had the pond.
So build it and it appears they will come.
Thanks for all the encouragement everyone. Pond built and partly sunk. It sits about 15" above ground. Breeze blocks under the liner to make some shelves and pond filled and left to settle before we trim the liner. Steps available for wildlife escape. Will put pics on soon. Now I have to decide how to finish the top edge to secure the liner.
Suggestions welcome.
Hi Little weeeed, if you are putting the breeze blocks under the liner to make shelves, cover them with some old carpet/underlay to cushion them from the liner. With the pressue/weight of the water against the rough corners of a breeze block a hole could soon form and ruin your pond.
A picture of work so far might give us some ideas of how to help you finish off the edges. It doesn't have to be the same all the way round and ther are many different ways of doing it!
Our planting was probably too late, as the plants are starting to die back before they've put on much growth. But hopefully they will all be back next year. Two frogs now and loads of insects+larvae. Just starting to get a bit of blanket weed but I'm putting that down to being in full sun as the weather's been good since the water went in. Hopefully, once the water lilies grow again and I put some more 'rafting' plants in next year this should solve the problem. Going to sort some log piles around the edges tomorrow to provide more cover for the two frogs, as a cat is visiting regularly.
OOOOHHH. Now I need a bigger garden as I really really want a pond! Looks like the kids might lose a bit more from thier lawn. Or I coild maybe convert the sand pit that's 4'x8' made from sleepers! They don't use it anymore, and I was going to steal it for an extra veg or fruit bed! What do you all think? Gets partial shade in summer, mostly *sun* (or what passes for daylight here!) in winter. Have plenty rocks and bricks available to surround it. Opportunity for even more different plants! Will frogs still come if there is a little waterfall? Or does the wildlife prfer it still?
You've all just inspired me again, now. This forum is better than any amount of GW on telly, everyone is so friendly.
I shall have a go, sometime, then Verdun. Watch this space! (for a very long time, with all the other jobs I need/want to do!